For a good cup of joe

When we need to stop and take a coffee break

You know those days or times when all you can think about is wrapping your fingers around a steaming cup of coffee? Or maybe tea, if that’s more your speed; we won’t judge! That’s us today, right now. Our hands are itching to curl around the perfect ceramic handle and cradle that mug in close, to feel its cozy warmth seeping into our bodies. Our noses are twitching to breath deeply of that heady aroma rising up from the freshest of brews. Our tongues are tingling for that first sip, ready for the first few drops of that beverage from the gods to slide across our ever-thankful taste buds. Ahh. Yes. That’s exactly what we’re dreaming of at this precise moment.

The question is, where should we go to fulfill this craving for coffee?

We could go to Good Life Café & Bakery on Lansing Street in Mendocino. These guys are perennially on our list of favorites with their chill vibe, fantastic-yet-still-healthy food, and always delicious coffees. In fact, we may or may not have already talked about them once or twice… We love taking advantage of their outdoor picnic tables when it’s sunny and their seats at the long window looking out over the street when it’s a bit inclement.

It’s always a good afternoon at Frankie’s!

Or we could go around the corner to Frankie’s. Yes, they are known for their amazing thin crust pizza and selection of locally made Cowlicks ice cream, but they also make a killer espresso. Seriously. Plus, with all that delicious ice cream hanging around, it’s hard to resist an oh-so-indulgent café affogato or sometimes a coffee milkshake if it’s warm and we’re going big.

Of course, just on the other side of Lansing, Moody’s Coffee has become an indispensable everyday tradition for some of our staff. A funky little hole in the wall type spot, Moody’s is great if you need a cup to go for a walk around the Mendocino Headlands.

But we might need to go up to Fort Bragg later, so we could stop at Mara’s Coffee House on the way… Right next to the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Highway 1, this laid-back, small town coffee house is popular with locals and visitors alike. Last time we stopped by, a regular stream of friends and acquaintances coming in and out greeted us as we relaxed on the couches with our mugs. They also offer some tasty sandwiches and great locally made tea from Mendocino Made Marvels.

Or we could zip by the A Frame a little farther up the highway. This unique little drive through in the middle of Fort Bragg has a double line of dedicated fans every morning and afternoon.

And we can’t forget about the Headlands Coffee House on Laurel Street in downtown Fort Bragg. This place is basically a Mendocino area tradition. It’s not fancy, but boy do the locals congregate here or what. We love the rotating selection of local art that’s always hanging on the walls. Sometimes we’ll also order off their menu of classic café fair or hang around for the live music that happens most nights. Oh! Best yet is picking up an interesting used book at The Bookstore across the street and then coming in for a quiet hour or so, just us, our coffee, and a good read.

…we might need some coffee just so we can pick which of these great spots to go to today!

Words by Laura Hockett